Truck Hauling Cinder Blocks Overturns in Orange County
Numerous lane closures created massive traffic snarls in the Orlando area this past Tuesday after a semi-truck hauling cinder blocks overturned, scattering the contents of their trailer across the road and sending several people to a nearby hospital. According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s report, the incident happened along State Road 417, close to where this road intersects with State Road 408.
The semi-truck and trailer were traveling down the southbound lanes of the road when they neared a construction zone. Inside of the construction zone were numerous construction barrels used to warn motorists of the presence of construction workers. Normally stable, it appears that one of these barrels was blown over by a stronger than expected gust of wind. After blowing down, the barrel rolled into the southbound lanes of the road, directly into the path of the oncoming semi-truck.
The driver of the truck told reporters that they attempted to avoid the barrel and to stop their vehicle, but things had moved far too quickly, and the driver found that they had no time to fully halt the motion of their truck laden with thousands of pounds of concrete.
As the driver struggled to maintain control over their vehicle, they accidentally swung the truck into a another car along the roadway. As a result of this collision, the driver fully lost control of the truck and it overturned, scattering the large grey cinder blocks across the road and creating some difficulties for emergency response crews attempting to reach the incident and help clean up the area as well as provide emergency care for those injured as a result of the crash.
Although the full extent of the injuries suffered in the incident is not known, it does seem clear that at least two people were transported to area hospitals to receive treatment for injuries. The reports stated that all of these injuries were considered non life-threatening. No information was available to indicate whether or not either of the two people were released in the following hours or if both remained for some time in order for doctors and nurses to examine their injuries and monitor their recovery process.
An investigation into the incident is still underway.
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
